Maiestie Goodnesse gets not so soone a great Estate Mischiefe's foule way to Soueraignity This secret haste is sure all is imbound What shall I do Hold on the course I meant Why not The death of Mahomet will still content Thy will is done and Mahomet is slaine Alaham. My minde misgaue it selfe my thoughts did feare Yet knew I they of nothing guilty were By fate or malice is the Bassha slaine Caine. By fate I thinke for Iustice fatall is As Gods bequest to them that doe amisse Alaham. By suddaine death by thunder lightning fire Or by what other anger of the skie I pray thee shew how Mahomet did die Caine. By these hands that owe seruice to the State And by his blood haue made it fortunate Alaham. What execration did he dying vse Against this violence of broken faith Which wounds good soules more than the bodies death Caine. In falling downe these only words he spake Helpe people helpe My death your bondage brings Behold these wounds receiue I for your sake Reward of them that friend you vnder Kings Vile Caine that like the Axe do'st goe about To cut thy selfe an helue to weare thee out Alaham. Most wicked act Could neither faith nor law Reuerence of State remorse of doing ill The paines of iustice nor the hopes withdraw Thy raging hand And do'st thou thinke the world can suffer this That thou should'st glory to haue done amisse Caine. Is thy desire growne wanton in her ioy Or do'st thou seeme to say thy wishes nay More kindly in the end with them to play Alaham. By fires of hell which burne and haue no light By those foule spirits which ill men only see I sweare thy death shall Mahomets requite Caine. Vnto the world although I guilty be I did thy will let me be cleare to thee Alaham. In vaine I should command his death by sleights That placed am vpon the fathers seat Where power can easlier doe things than intreat Caine. The State of Kings is large yet lacks in this That easie each thing but not lawfull is Besides you then a second brother were Nor knew I when this plot we did deuise You should see clearer by your fathers eyes Alaham. Rumor complaints and scornfull thoughts of power Are wayes of priuate hearts that from below Misiudge those higher powers they doe not know But now borne vp into a Princes Throne Beneath I see that world of discontent Where error teacheth vse of punishment Away with him Entreatie is in vaine Thy death to him is due whom thou hast slaine Caine. Ah fearefull friendships with superior powers Whose two parts they themselues and their Estates Diuide or ioyne like nets and be the snare Where loue and feare to power entrapped are Alaham aduow thy deed To constant wickednesse men honour beare Where truth it selfe hath iniurie by feare Alaham. I say Let him be slaine His fault is this That Mahomet most trayterously he slew Caine. Stay Sir I say that he still liuing is And my confession of my selfe vntrue Alaham. Traytor vnto thy selfe and false to me What riddles of contempt and wickednesse Are these which of thy selfe confessed be If Mahomet be dead then shalt thou die For murther of thy friend deserues no lesse If Mahomet do liue yet shalt thou die For if no murther scorne thou do'st confesse Away with him Actus tertius Scena tertia Hala Alaham HAla. What tumult 's this my Lord Alah. The play of Chance Which without mischiefe nothing can aduance Hala. Yet good Sir tell me what this tumult is Alaham. The fall of him whose heart hath done amisse Hala. His name and crime sweet Lord I long to know Alaham. Report of mischiefe doth infect the heart And wisdome bids they should in silence goe For nature feeleth euery bodies smart Hala. Women belike are still in infancy That must not feare or prouocation see The glasse of horror is not fact but feare Opinion is a Tyrant euery where Alaham. If I shall tell you what you long to know What boots it If you thinke it is not so Hala. What leades your reason leades my reason too That all your words conceiue in kindnesse doe Alaham. The man that was and is not now is he That neuer was the man he seem'd to be Caine What need more to shew with him are dead His fault and our goodwills to him mislead Hala. What heare I now O false and weake estate Of good beleefe Wherin shall peace be found Since Gods be not and mankinde made to hate Caine dead Euen Caine whom now we loued best In instants both growne wicked and opprest Caine slaine by you Hath Caine deserued this O God! Like strange his crime and killing is Perchance not dead my Lord how was he slaine Alaham. By sword Hala. Wounds let forth spirits yet liue againe Alaham. Nay dead he is These eyes did see his breath Beare all his spirits into the world of death Hala. Necessity that from infernall night Fatally linked art vnto the skies Beare thee we cannot yet we beare thee must Now hopes appeare euen now my heart resolues Reuenge and silence is the way to it Did he confesse his fault What spake he last Alaham. Ah Mahomet whose hopes were on me plac'd Hala. Hasty beleefe my Lord hath hasty deeds And with their wounds oft truth and wisdome bleeds Alaham. When wickednesse is ripe a minute showes What chance the dice of Innocency throwes Hala. Pardon me Lord Good thoughts doe liue aboue In highest region of vnfeined loue Doubt and reuenge Nature hath plac'd below Meaning the space should make the passage slow Alaham. God meaning we should rule and you obey Gaue men cleare sight and women good affection In vs not in your selues lies your election Hala. My Lord 'T is true Our frayle and weake Estate Doth labor in excesse A womans heart Still in the feuer is of loue or hate Hardly the loue which I did be are to Caine Could thinke he err'd much lesse approue him slaine But now his falls approu'd by heauenly doome Our losse in him foretells our gaine to come Then Sir Take care his death be not in vaine Your sillie Sire is blinde if he were dead This reeling State by you might stand againe True ioy is onely hope put out of seare And honour hideth error euery where A forme the world expects in worldly things Caine was a man a Bassha and our friend Sepulture as a man honor to his estate Teares doe become a guilty friendships end Excesse of honour done to them that die Makes liuing men see our humanity Besides thought-feeding rumor forth will goe And occupie vnquiet peoples spirits While in this pile for Caine you may bestow Their blinded weaknesse which with-hold your right People doe power not persons apprehend Strength showes like truth Mankinde loues policie Defended Kings but not reuenged be Alaham. Enuy will rise and both wayes fall on vs Either as hauing slaine an innocent Or highly err'd by burying treason thus In penall
plucke downe States to put vp priuate lawes Whom fame enobles while she would destroy Honor hath many wings Chance hath no bookes Who follow treade but where men trode before Who giue example still are something more Beare witnesse yet yee good and euill spirits Who in the ayre inuisibly do dwell That these strange pathes I walke of vglinesse Are forc'd by threatning gulfes of treacherie Nourisht by States and Times iniurious Nor is it sinne which men for safety choose Nor hath it shame which men are forc'd to vse Heli. What be these agonies indefinite These sudden changes secret violent Both argue euill lucke and ill intent Alah. That which I most did hate and least did feare Is fall'n Nature cares not for natiue blood I wickedly must doe or mischiefe beare I must no more be or no more be good Heli. How growes this change Reueale this secret work Both cures and wounds doe oft together lurcke Alah. Heli you know the time when this fraile King Languish'd and wanton'd in a powerfull throne Sent to the gods to learne what should befall Hauing but peace and wealth to doubt withall Their answer was My fathers eldest sonne Must be a sacrifice for this Estate And with his blood wash out the doome of fate The Basshas swoll'n by vse of ruling Kings Presume on God and what by Gods decree Was death by theirs must onely exile be And proud againe with this vniust successe A second error on the first they build And he that liues against the heauenly doome Must now not liue but raigne yet only raigne To put downe me they feare for him they scorne Is innocency to no other borne And must my right and Royall blood abide Traytors to be my Lords the dead my King Is honor to so many masters tied Shall I not liue except I scorned liue Well where the choice is left to kill or dye The best Estates doe but in hazard lie Heli. T' is rashnesse to commit our right to chance Alaham. T' is madnesse at the worst to feare mischance Heli. Vnfold this factious clowdie mysterie What cannot help yet will experience be Alaham. The dayes be fresh when all the world in hate With Mahomets supreme authority The Basshas idly liu'd no forme of State Obseru'd no Councells held no Maiesty Weake spirits did corrupt the strong did cast Worth withered vp craft only was in trust The Court a farme strange ominous ill signe When publike States to priuatenesse encline Such was my fathers frayle simplicity As wanting iudgment how to stand alone He passion-ledd could loue and trust but one The world saw all was nought yet I saw feare Would while it murmur'd mischiefs councells keepe So blind are men or with respects a sleep Enuy wrought more in me and made me know This passion in the King which did aduance Mahomet aboue the reach of ouerthrow Had counter-passions change inconstancy For wit and malice possibility I stir'd the King with enuies of his slaue For great Estates inlarge not little harts My charge suspitious which no answer haue Power still concluding all in euill part With Kings not strong in vertue nor in vice I knew truth was like pillars built on ice Factions besides I in the Basshas mou'd And in their diuers witts my malice cast Conspiracy with good successe I prou'd For Kings are easily ledd away with many That hearing all want strength to iudge of any Thus we exil'd him with pretence of State Whom it is true I for my selfe did hate But now when Mahomet was banisht hence His fellow Bässha's fond of Gouernment To rule their Prince with his name they intend And ruine heires yet seeme successions friends For while I by my brothers exile stood They hide their mindes to vndermine the more And much to me in pittie thinges they leaue That craft in good apparell might deceiue Heli. Their craft and power against you thus combui'd How could you shunne or worke the Basshas so As they might leaue to seeke your ouerthrow Alaham. I found their crafte and made my good of all Some I did winne the rest I did disgrace Euen binding them by what they gaue to me So great the scopes of braue ambition be Nor staid I here but as a man in doubt To trust this tickle art of men too farre Where many witts to one kept subIect are I forthwith sought on fewer heades to lay This wardshippe of the King effeminate A farre lesse seruile course for me that meant To steale in change into this Gouernment This made me thinke of Caine whose spirits I saw Officious were already entred grace Pleasant and fit to multiplie a place The scruple that diuided him and me Was feare he did too much possesse my wife With priuate scorne I waigh'd with publike ends And saw who will not see needs no amends For he to hide his fault straight puts on faith And care of me a badge of seruile lust Which euer iniure those it pleaseth must In him I did accept the sacrifice Of ruling him that rul'd this wauing masse Who cannot beare what can he bring to passe Now though by him the present state I gain'd Yet to my after-ends this gaue no ayde For their foundations only were by fame On peoples loues and wonders to be layd How little Princes fauors help the same They know that marke what feet men goe withall Who while they rise in grace in credit fall The people then it was that I must seeke A future not a present vse of power Not strength establish'd but a strength to change To all but onely those who worke it strange With this Caines place had no Affinity It presage being of a Kingdomes fall When Kings trust any one to gouerne all His nature lesse for it Monarchall was Sharpe narrow-humor'd only fit to rise By that which people hate Crowne-flatteries Since nature therefore cannot change her face To thinke one fit for all were foolishnesse To force an instrument experience feares Since wit may take of each the fruit it beares Of Mahomet I then bethought my selfe Whose absence pittie had And as in sects The present errors doe prepare a place For masked change to shew her pleasing face So did the hate of present Gouernment Forget his faults as they forget their wounds I saw that he alone did fit my ends Occasion mother is of truest friends My ends were not to broyle the present State Nor leaue obedience in my fathers dayes But after he was dead to dispossesse My brother whom the heauens did depresse Chance wrought me good lest it should worke me feare I meant to goe beyond the wayes of spite Both stay and winne the world with Mahomet For who can stirre are fittest meanes to let My father I did moue remou'd and sped Feare made him pittifull and folly kinde In passions Orbe most patient to be led Each argument begat another minde Doubt had no memory offence was dead Distresse seem'd safety likelinesse did binde For in these captiue
Remorse alone doth them and me reueale My wife hath compass'd Caine so cunningly As he hath sworne you by his hand shall dye Mahomet Vncredible it is to thinke men neuer change To thinke they alter easily is as strange Vpon what grounds should this strange malice moue Alaham. Vpon what grounds doe men beginne to loue Mahomet What moued Caine Alah. That which I may not see For they loue well that doe in hate agree Mah. Are truth and friendship but ambitious traps To feed desire with all that she can get Are words and good turnes but hearts counterfeit Alaham. When enemies bid enemies take heed They trust not them and yet they will beware For disaduantage growes of little care Resolue to die or else resolue to feare Mahomet Good Angells still protect the innocent Hell would haue all if harme were ill intent Alah. Mischiefe still hides her selfe from them she hits In hopes and feares of vnresoluing wits Mahomet I well know Caine his nature to excesse Of good or ill is forc'd by industrie In others spite lies his impietie Appease your wife for that must lie in you Alaham. Call vp the dead for that is lesse to doe A womans hate is euer dipt in blood And doth exile all counsells that be good Mahomet Reason and truth shall pleade to her for me Alaham. The eyes of rage it selfe doe only see And truth serues vnto rage but for a glasse To decke her selfe in and bring spite to passe Reason to rage is like hands to a sore Whose often stroking makes the anguish more Mahomet Impossible all counsell doth refuse Alaham. Let Caine be kill'd and then my wife accuse Mahomet My heart shall first take counsell with my fate If it foretell the worst it teacheth feate If it diuines no ill how can it hate If what shall fall it feeles not I must beare The time growes on The King I know makes haste To sacrifice to God For common ioyes Are made much dearer by the sorrowes past CHORVS PRIMVS Of good Spirits WE that are made to guard good men and binde the ill See both miscarried here below against our power and will As if the earth and hers were to the worst left free And we made subiect by their curse to deaths blacke Colonie Yet is our Maker strong and we his first Creation Wheras the state of that darke Quire is meerly our priuation Whence doth this ods then grow which seemes to master all Since we are more than nature is they much lesse by their fall Are we not diligent or is the good not wise Showes Truth lesse glorious in the earth than her ill picture Lies Then Audit vs in grosse at least we equall be And if in minutes men seeke out true inequality Compare words with the life Eternity with time Insulting pride with humble loue pure innocence with crime And if these in their natures equally be weigh'd The one liues euer building vp what others haue decay'd So that to make and marre is our true difference To marre expressing finite power to make omnipotence The obiect then it is from whence this oddes doth grow By which the ill o'reweighs the good in euery thing below And what is that but Man A crazed soule vnfix'd Made good yet fall'n not to extremes but to a meane betwixt Where like a cloud with windes he toss'd is here and there We kindling good hope in his flesh they quenching it with feare We with our abstract formes and substance bodilesse Image by glaunces into him our glories their distresse And in prospectiue Maps make ill farre off appeare Lest it should worke with too great power when it approacheth neare Beauties againe of Truth which those ill spirits conceale With Optike glasses we reflect on man to kindle zeale But whether idle man exceeding orders frame As out of heauen iustly cast must Vulcan-like goe lame Or that those euill spirits so dazle humane eyes As they thinke foule forbidden things more beautifull more wise Wee see though they want power to change our reall frame Yet in the world they striue to gaine by changing of our name Calling the Goodnesse weake Patience a lacke of sense Or seeming not to feele because it dares make no defence True Pietie in Man which vpward doth appeale They doe deride as argument of little strength much zeale And as the Painters art by deeping colors there Here sleighting o're and finely casting shadowes euery where Makes from a flat a face shew off as if imboss'd In which the forme not matter is the summe of all his cost So take these Fayries from or adde vnto our meane With arts fine casting shadows till they seeme to change vs cleane And make a picture which they couet should excell And which yet to be like must lose the life of doing well This image is their wit and so their Deitie Which though not keeping one shape long in all would worship'd be In precept doctrine rite and discipline agree'd That but prosperity on earth there is no liuing Creed Out of which fatall guide Alaham now vndertakes The ruine of his King and father for ambitions sake Against the lawes of Nations power and natiue blood As if the vttermost of ill a Scepter could make good But marke how Vice still makes example her owne fate For with like mischiefe Hala shakes both him and his Estate He in his fathers bowels seeks an earthly Throne Whence she supplants his heires againe with bastards of her owne He makes wrong triumph ouer right and innocence She makes her lust religions lord confusion her defence Thus as that Tyrant who cut off the Statues head Which bare the name of Iupiter Olympian christened Euen by this scornfull act to what was God in name Taught people to encroch vpon the sacred Monarch-frame So while the o'reswoll'n pride of this Mahumetan By wounding of his Princely race playes false with God and man He in it doth disperse those clouds of reuerence Which betweene man and Monarchs Seate keep sweet intelligence And while he would be lord of order nature right Brings in disorder that deuouring enemy of might Which with her many hands vnweaues what time had wrought And proues what power obtaines by wrong is euer dearly bought So that our griefe and ioy is in this Tragedy To see the ill amongst her owne act vnprosperity The corne fall to the ground the chaffe in siues remaine Which of the corne was once and yet cannot be corne againe But as their ancient mates the sudden-kindled Windes Broken out of the watry clouds wherein they were enshrin'd Afflict the sturdy Oke are heauy to the Reed And equally spend out thēselues with good or euill speed So of these windy spirits which wander in the ayre By their malignity to blast both what is foule and faire Whether they prosper doe or faile in their intent Their vglinesse disclosed is their violence is spent While we vphold the world and were we all but one By Legions of
those Angels curs'd could not be ouerthrown'd Yet among stories as the Authors winne no praise Which truly write but they who time with flatteries doe please So in mans muddy soule the meane doth not content Nor equally the two extremes but that which fits his bent This makes some soare and burne some stoope and wet their wings And some againe commit excesse euen in indifferent things For who maintaines one vice to multiply another Incestuously begets more heyres vpon his owne first mother And in Venerian acts as Concubine and wife Only expresse that difference which pictures do from life The act being all in one and but the same in all Saue that the bondage of the vice delighteth to enthrall So in mans choice suppose this ends indifferent The good and ill like equall wayes yet will the worst content Actus secundus Scena prima HALA alone HALA. I will no more smother confusedly This inward warre where modesty and shame Would subiect sense to duties Tyrannie Wronged with doubt I liue a wife to lust A stranger both to honor loue and trust My friends despis'd my seruants made my spies No way but by betraying me to rise Is this the only right of womanhood Then know base Men in whom all loue is lost That wit moues wit power feare feare hate No farther bondage hath a wiues estate While Mahomet that faithlesse hypocrite Canker of loue All-ill in one that man Shew'd loue to me Alaham was wroth an husbands honour touch'd He vile I worse the eyes of Iealousie Seeing her owne disease in him and me But since this wretch with his aspiring craft To Alaham hath falsly sold my shame My iniuries and dishonours are his fame And shall this traffike of ambition thriue And bury vs in modesty aliue No Caine For thy example I resolue To study spite and practise cruelty Scorne else will grow their sport our falls their fame That glory to deceiue and ioy in shame But what means this Alaham hasts to the Crowne He tries moues breakes all that will not be bowed Those only stand which helpe his father downe Wife is a priuate name Ambitions wayes Lie not within the bounds of love but vse When things are ripe I must be ouerthrowne And shall I lose my selfe in idle lust Each Vassall is as great as Queenes in it Princes haue strength they erre for Empire must What feare I then Eame that is great is good Hazard all men behold with reuerent eyes And must we only in remorse be wise No no My heart and State doe more embrace Purple shall hide my lust a Crowne my shame Passion with passions hath such vnity As one must euer be anothers frame Beyond the truth I am in louing Caine The monuments of lust are secrecy Suspition shame remorse aduersity If Caine be King the wayes to that are change Wrong hazard care ruine confusion blood Poore thoughts that feare or rest haue neuer good My partie 's strong I build vpon the vice Question the yoke of Princes husband law My good successe breakes all the links of awe Then Chance be thou my friend Desire my guide My heart extended is to great attempts Which if they speed eternize shall my fame If not 't is glory to excell in shame Loe where my Husband comes Now reason must Disguise these passions lest I lose my end Who hides his minde is to himselfe a friend Actus secundus Scena secunda Hala Alaham HAla. King of my selfe Redeemer of our fame What secret clouds doe ouercast your heart Counsell and time doe both worke one effect And either cure or cleare what we suspect Alah. My wounds can haue no cure my feares haue cast Nature and truth into afflictions moulds The workes of time and counsell both are past When hearts once from themselues are runne astray Chance must their guide be violence their way Hala. Chance is not cast in moulds like other Arts Her counsells but the hope of rashnesse be Aduice did neuer any man betray If truth be luckie counsell is the way Alaham. If counsell be the guide of vndertaking Our powers best with our owne wits doe agree Where both the meanes and ends together be Hala. Who trusts his passion multiplies his care All paines within all cures without vs are Alaham. If you captiued be I speake withall Then from my passion into yours I fall Hala. My state of minde good will and homage is My being reuerence my end your will Selfe-loue it selfe payes tribute vnto this Alah. If loue haue power to leaue and breake her vow How can I trust to that you promise now If loue change not how can I trust and know That you loue Mahomet my ouerthrow Hala. His place deseru'd respect his vertue praise Our freedome not inhibited by you Found many things indifferent to doe Alaham. Forbidding is the prison of the thought A violence which on themselues they draw That inwardly of nothing stand in awe But marke the end he first despiseth thee Then triumphs in thy once forsaken loue Proclaimes deceipt to be thy state of mind Vncompetible vnpossible to finde So as if I should rule this glorious Throne You ruling me as he assumes you doe The State and I at once were ouerthrowne Hala. Good nature then I see is not the art With which a womans honor safe may goe Through hollow seas of mans dissembling heart His faithlesnesse yet doth this good to me That I may freely hate all men but thee Alaham. Hate is the band of furie in the heart Without reuenge no more but sense of smart Hala. Hate is the print of iniurie violent Only in ruine and reuenge content Alaham. Reuenges in your sex dishonor be And in your strength impossibilitie Impatience only doth with God make warre Hala. Furie findes armes wrong hath ill destinie While God is it is basenesse to despaire For right more credit hath than power there Alaham. Yet God and kings vse wisdome in their might Reward and grace doe from their owne hands part They others vse for instruments of spite Hala. Whom can we vse Since he we hate is great And we disgrac'd Who hazard will his State With him that for his owne good must intreat Alaham. Aspirers are not voyd of riuall hate If any enuy him or loue our right Reuenge lies there their liues desire Art Hala. Of God I aske it and in men will moue As much as can be wrought with hope or loue But men vncertaine are blowne here and there With loue remorse feares which in frayltie liue Who need forgiuenesse easily doe forgiue The heart which feeles most liuely can expresse Reuenge that picture of his guiltinesse Alaham. Ruine the power not art of Princes is Caine is ingag'd as deep as we in this Hala. The wounds are mine to me belongs reuenge Sense my aduiser is you Sir my end What needs a womans passion more to friend Alaham. Mischiefe now claime thy due Malice feare not To offer all thy sleights to wicked
wits Ruine lights not amisse where ere it hits My engines worke care is already past My hopes arise out of these Basshas blood If both my wish if either dye my good Hala Good fortunes are together linkt Thy faith stirres vp new light within my minde Behold the Throne descends to take me vp Antiquitie in her vnenuied wombe Now offers vs the fatall president Of sixteene Kings my Predecessors all Blinded and then depos'd by Basshas hand So tickely vnworthinesse doth stand Doth wit and courage only rest in slaues Hath hazard ought more horrible than scorne Haue I occasions sure and shall I stay To giue all but my miserie away No Hala No Thy dowrie shall be fame Thy stile a Crowne thy prospect reuerence The East shall doe thee honor in my name Out shall my fathers and my brothers eyes Authority is only for the wise But since these mighty workes haue many parts And I but one which one cannot doe all I le send thee Caine keepe firme vpon your strengths Beauty and honor natures Scepters be And haue on mens desires authority Exit Hala. Now Hala seeke thy sex lend scorn'e thy wit To worke new patterns of Reuenges in Let rage despise to feed on priuate blood Her honor lies aboue where danger is In Thrones of Kings in vniuersall woe Worke that which Alaham may enuie at And men wish theirs that Ill it selfe may tremble Monstrous incredible too great for words Keepe close and adde to furie with restraint Doe not breake forth vntill thou breakest all Is Wrong so proud Shall Man once dare to fashion A Womans ruine in a womans passion Husband most odious name scorne of subiection Is loue to women but your rage of thoughts Are your desires let blood by your enioying Ah fooles We see your lusts relent you see not ours And from that change aduantage hath her powers But on Still vse thy craft Thy strength lies there Ignorance that sometimes makes the hypocrite Wants neuer mischiefe though it oft want feare For while thou thinkst faith made to answer wit Obserue the iustice that doth follow it Caine Mahomet and me thou hat'st alike For vnlike cause and craftie wayes do'st take That each may ruin'd be for others sake Shall I for thee hazard Caines life I loue And weigh downe my affection with my hate Can highest thoughts haue any thing aboue Ah! but perchance my safety in the blood Of Mahomet doth rest the good of Caine Then were it losse to make occasion vaine And shall I looke but only to be safe Can Iniurie and Malice adde no more Ah coward sex faint shallow Passion Farre from me be A worke that no age dares Allow yet none conceale I must attempt Furie then spurre thy selfe embedlam wit Poyson my thoughts to make my reason see Pleasure in crueltie Glorie in spite Rage to exceed examples doth delight Thoughts doe you blush To Alaham what 's ill His death O barren wit and sandie rage No marble pillars no enamells rich Buried in silence worne away with age Are furies that no greater plagues deuise Horrors they be that haue eternities What saith my heart Grow millions out of one Doth passion leaue her infancie by vse And shall I by the death of Mahomet More skill at least more crueltie beget Then let him die But can I venture Caine And leaue misfortune power ouer loue Triumphs to Alaham if both be slaine Ah sleepy Sexe how slow is their progression That would exactly measure infinite By tender feares or minutes of delight Then Hala leaue this circle of selfe-loue Beginne goe on hate must stride ouer feare Who are secure And nothing venture all things must endure For Alaham that traytors ouerthrow My rage is yet too yong to worke vpon What to resolue of him I dare not thinke Till this great frame wherein our fortunes lie Be surer linkt vnto prosperitie Then shall occasion horrors strange deuise Fooles only lose their ends to tyrannize Actus secundus Scena Tertia Caine Basha Hala CAine Princesse of me I finde care in your face Woe smothered vp I came to know your will Nothing which you command me can be ill Hala. That which I least did feare is fall'n on me Wrong and mishap which needing others loue Makes them vnlouely that vnhappy be From Kings themselues when fortune turnes her face Then need they most yet least may vse their owne So dearly Mans unthankfulnesse is knowne Caine. What is the cause that makes you thus accuse The world of faults your selfe of inward feare Hala. The little faith which all the world doth vse The iniuries which strength of heart must beare Euui'd of all if it be set aboue If humble then too low for men to loue Caine. Doe not forsake your selfe For they that doe Offend and teach the world to leaue them too Mortall our God shall be the truth shall lie Darkenesse shall see her selfe fame lose her voyce Er'e I will leaue my loue or my loue you Afflictions wounds affection doe renew Hala. Perchance you loue both those I hate and me Affections then against affection be Perchance a vow good turnes and good beleefe Are mists betweene your loue and my releefe Caine. You know I loue speake plaine and doe not feare That reason other is than kindnesse there Hala. Then heare and if my iudgement you disproue You shall haue cause to thinke I trust and loue Mahomet the faultie is his faults be these Enuious of thee to my loue treacherous The King must lose his sight his Crowne his Sonne This wickednesse hath Mahomet begunne Caine. O hell and is thy seate in fleshly hearts Be mans ill thoughts his owne ill spirits become I well can thinke that Mahomet aspires For loue of greatnesse may with goodnesse goe But cannot thinke that he our death conspires Perchance he seekes to doe your brother Right Which makes our owne desires to doe vs spite Hala. Mischiefe that may be help'd is hard to know And danger going on still multiplies Caine. Let care as fast then adde vnto her eyes Hala. Where harme hath many wings care armes too late Caine. Hastie attempts make chance precipitate What shall I doe Hal. Goe forward in thy feare Danger doth giue thee choice to doe or beare Caine. My loue of him and truth doe make me loth To thinke them wrong'd And shall I wrong them both Hala. The good beleefe of mankinde is a sea Where honor drownes iniquitie goes free Whose thoughts like sailes for euery weather be Caine. With shaking thoughts no hands can draw aright True hearts to doe vnnobly haue no sp'rit Hala. The feare of some is guilt with honestie Others with loue thine with false noblenesse Yet thinke not Coward wit can hide the shame Of hearts which while they dare not strike for feare Would make it vertue in them to forbeare No Caine In men we women when we loue Aske faith and heart Our selues haue feare and wit In loue how can thy soule and mine agree
I seeke reuenge thou preachest pietie Caine. More easie motions gentle hearts receiue His fault was great yet you may haue redresse In State and honor without such excesse Hala. Excesse the reason is and meane of loue And in the same excesse is malice ioy'd I would be safe and yet haue him destroy'd Caine. If leaue or left the fate of kindnesse be By his example what becomes of me Hala. If blinde to all but to it selfe be loue Whence doe your vowes or whence this question moue Since the true state of true affection is Wonder at others worth Faith without hire Vnwearied Paine vnrecompens'd Desire Caine. Great hearts thus giuen away in prison are Their strength their bands and good beleefe their smart Loue neuer seuers reason from the heart Nala. My shame againe then unto me impart Restore my faith and I doe render thee Those faithlesse vowes which thou hast made to me For since I see the spungie hearts of men Their hollowes gladly fill with womens loue And nothing yeeld to them vncrusht againe What nature workes 't is folly to complaine Mahomet that wretch hath done me iniurie He left my loue and he my life hath sought Caine Line at ease fame is an idle breath My body is enough 'twixt thee and death Caine. Distract I am my reason like a cloud Before a winters storme rides here and there Like reedes my thoughts are straight and crooked too With diuers breaths which diuers passions blow Against the streame of truth must loue still goe Resolv'd I am that Mahomet shall die Hala. Shame spake this word danger appeares not yet Time like a med'cine will asswage this paine And feare perchance bring backe good will againe Caine. It is not I that liue in me but you Whose will hath fashion'd all my thoughts anew Hala. Then on When thoughts vnite all care is ceas'd The heart vnfetter'd and the hope increas'd Out of his death I see occasion borne To greater power than needs to couer scorne For he the Iustice rules you rule the Warre His death diuided powers will vnite And in a broken course where dangers be Only the Crowne can put off miserie Caine. Farre be it off our hopes should be so vaine Our secret loue already tempteth God To warre him more with infidelity Would hasten vengeance and make sharpe his rod Hala. God made strict lawes for vertues exercise An idle word a wish transgresseth them Yet in a Throne remorse hath glorious eyes Alaham doth vndermine the present State When he corrupted hath the peoples faith Thou hast the sword authority makes way Her hand is next when Crownes become a prey Caine. We God and man will first trie with the death Of Mahomet If that doe passe for good Hope easily makes occasion vnderstood Hala. The end agree'd the meane is yet in doubt Caine. By sword Hala. That will be easie to descrie Danger to misse and hard to doe without Caine. By poyson then wherof though doubts may grow What one alone may doe is hard to know Hala. It often failes For instruments are base Slaues haue too slauish hearts a Basshas name Is like a superstitious hallowed place Men must be forc'd or wise that force the same Caine. By these two hands that will not faile their heart It shall be wrought If poyson misse the sword shall compasse it When chances often scape at last they hit Hala. Fortune and Loue Both Gods of humane might You like aduenture see it rightly plac'd You liue in kindnesse see it not disgrac'd Exit Caine. What I haue vow'd both God and Nature hate My heart misgiues my soule doth prophecie That euill thoughts procure an euill fate But ah my loue I gaue and it gaue me The choice is past Thoughts now must thinke to doe Not what I freely am but forc'd vnto Actus secundus Scena quarta Mahomet Caine MAhomet Who euer haue obseru'd the worke of spirits May see how easily men slide downe to ill The world hath strange examples false delights Which make our senses nets to catch our will Who then with men for euery fault falls out Must hate himselfe and all the world about Behold the man I speake of doth appeare Retire aside stand close marke what succeeds His owne destruction or else mine he breeds Caine what is it that thus your minde distracts Counsells of honour alter not the face Hearts only thinke with paine of doubtfull acts Caine. In care they liue that must for many care And such the best and greatest euer are Mah. They purchase care vnto themselues that know The weight of care and yet will it imbrace If care be grieuous why vsurpe you so Caine. I liue but to obey the Princes will Mahomet That is to cherish Prince in their ill For they must flatter good and euill too That vnder Princes all alone will doe Caine. As sweetest vapors couet to the skie So faith and dutie after Princes runne Ill nature neuer can indure a Sunne Mahomet Flatterie so like in all to dutie showes But finelier drest in diligence and care As Kings best plea'sd that most deceiued are Caine. Harsh spirit hates them that do not hate with it Miscensures all the world to seeme seuere Bindes honestie and truth to haue no wit These ill-fac'd vertues not of nature be But peeuishnesse true honors enemie Mahomet A iust seuere and vniuersall care Of people shorne by Princes fauorites To spies of Tyrannie vnpleasing is Which euer like ambitious Adamants So fast from people draw to Princes States As in the end they must draw vp their hares Caine then take heed of your selfe-seeking plot Engrossing offices aspiring all For it offends euen those it toucheth not Nor is it only this that hazards you Ill neuer goes alone if fame say true Caine. Is fame to censure vs that liue aboue And must sell iustice if we purchase loue Mahomet Fame is the peoples voyce to tell their griefe Appealing from inferiors to the chiefe If falsely you and Hala fame abuse Infamie for nothing men vnwisely chuse If fame speake truth which you would not haue knowne Grieue to deserue but not to beare your owne Caine. What doe I that the world can well reproue Mahomet Vniustly suffer or vniustly loue Caine. Suffer I doe for infamie is there Where either malice enuie is or feare Loue I confesse I doe And what is it But natures taxe layd vpon good intent For right and honor vnto excellent Mahomet Reason must iudge of loue not loue of it Else shall loue ground of euery mischiefe be For murther theft adultery and spite Are but loue of reuenge and others right Ah Caine my heart is rackt with inward griefe Iustice hath partie there and so hath loue They both haue wounds and yet they both haue life The one suppressing what the other moues I will speake plaine Hala thou do'st abuse And stayn'st the Princes line with seruile lust Wherin proud courage match'd with guiltinesse Adds wrong to wrong and
excesse Let no cost be forgot It makes men wonder though they honour not Musicke to fix the wandring spirits race And sweeten Enuies thoughts in vnity That sorrow and deuotion may haue place Remorse and pittie flow and multiply Lights of all kindes the light of day shut out For darknesse so enammeld is deuout Exit Priest Vnhappy state of Priesthood here below Who haue to doe with curious Atheisme With sinne in flesh and in the Church with schisme Our office is an holy mystery To teach Kings God and euery Subiect King How one obedience doth another bring But what boots truth to flesh or lawes to might Beleefe a wonder is Obedience woe And shall we Priests that vnder Princes liue Striue in our selues with vice abroad with might And like the hands which winnow rich mens gaine Grow poore in all but only woe and paine No No The eyes of Priests looke euer low To finde the key of power that is aboue When that is found all faults beneath we know But Maiesty hides faults as well as loue And though these rites of Princely funerall By lawes diuine should not prophaned be With lesse than with descents of Maiesty Yet Caine more Princely by thy Princes grace Shall be thy tombe than euer Princes was CHORVS TERTIVS A Dialogue of Good and Euill Spirits THe Good What is your scope vaine Ghosts would you o'rebuild the skie Were not mens Many tongues and minds their Babel-destinie Your beings discords are and what can they create But disproportion which is still the fairest marke of fate The Ill. Are you afrayd poore Soules Else why doe you descend To question or conferre with vs to whom you are no friends Who feare their owne Estates doe commonly first speake As they againe put goodnesse on who find their party weake We doe but what we did which is increase our might And as on earth so in the ayre cry downe your borrowed light The Good What can you winne of vs that must be as we were Whereas you exiles out of heauen can hope for nothing there The Ill. We that were as you are know well what you can be Where you that neuer were like vs what can you in vs see The Good That you haue first destroyed your selues and are ordain'd To scourge curse and corrupt that earth which you boast to haue gain'd The Ill. Why did not you defend that which was once your owne Betweene vs two the odds of worth by odds of power is knowne Besides Mappe clearly out your infinite extent Euen in the infancy of time when much was innocent Could this world then yeeld ought to enuie or desire Where pride of courage made men fall and basenesse rais'd them higher Where they that would be great to be so must be least And where to beare and suffer wrong was vertues natiue crest Mans skinne was then his silke the worlds wild fruit his food His wisdome poore simplicity his Trophies inward good No Maiesty for power nor glories for mans worth Nor any end but as the plants to bring each other forth Temples and vessells fit for outward sacrifice As they came in so go they out with that which you count Vice The Priesthood few and poore No Throne but open ayre For that which you call good allowes of nothing that is faire No Pyramis rais'd vp aboue the force of Thunder Nor Babel-walles by Greatnesse built for Littlenesse a wonder No Conquest testifying wit with courage mixt As wheeles whereon the world must runne and neuer can be fixt No Arts or Characters to read the great God in Nor stories of acts done for these all entred with the sinne A lasy calme wherein each foole a pilot is The glory of the skilfull shines where men may go amisse Till we came in there was no triall of your might And since we were in men your selues presume of little right Then cease to blast the earth with your abstracted dreames And striue no more to carry men against affections streames Nay rather tempt and proue if long life make them wise That must to haue their beauties seene put out all fleshly eyes Or when they be no more Eternall then to be Neglect the ioy and glorious vse of times felicity Cast out these thinne-weau'd lines and catch some little flyes The greater spirits which are ours feele not these nimble eyes In Alaham for instance plead your power or right Entise him from a mortall Crowne with your Crowne infinite Proue if he will forbeare vnnaturall Parricide To see who in the sea of humors shall the Scepter guide Trie if proud Hala will forget the death of Caine And reconcil'd in dutie with her owne Lord liue and raigne Moue Celica that spirit reputed for your owne To see if she to saue her life would haue her fame vnknowne Worke Zophi that poore soule though blinde to leaue his breath We only make things cheape or deare as Lords of life and death Lastly perswade the King to liue and saue his Crowne And all the world shall see we rayse and wee pull Princes downe So that your beings here are but a tincture cast Like crests vpon the Egypt Pharos to disguise not last Besides take from the world that which you reckon Sinne And she must be as at the first for euer to beginne A glorious spacious wombe fram'd to containe but one Since he that in it will be yours is sure to be alone Keepe therefore where you are descend not but ascend For vnderneath the Sun be sure no braue State is your friend The Good What haue you wonne by this but that curst vnder Sinne You make and marre throw downe and raise as euer to beginne Like Meteors in the ayre you blaze but to burne out And change your shapes like Phantom'd clouds to leaue weake eyes in doubt Not truth but truth-like grounds is that you worke vpon Varying in all but this that you can neuer long be one Then play here with your art false miracles deuise Deceiue and be deceiued still be foolish and seeme wise In peace erect your Thrones your delicacie spread The flowers of time corrupt soone spring and are as quickly dead Let warre which tempest-like all with it selfe o're-throwes Make of this diuerse world a stage for blood-enammeld showes Successiuely both these yet this fate follow will That all their glories be no more than change from ill to ill So as with peace or warre if you adorne one realme In both through other Climes againe you runne with barren streame Rest no where therefore but still wander as you doe And restlesse be they as you are that shall receiue you too Giue Alaham more scope to multiply his error With parents blood adorne his Throne more guilt still adds more terreur Let Hala's wicked heart for all ill births a wombe By violence of passion make for many vices roome Let ill example in to staine the Christian Nation The same excesse destroyes at last which first gaue reputation Conspire
against the truth you haue an easie foe For in the world all that are hers can neuer currant goe Vnder the next good shaddow your deform'd excesse Yet shall your masked arts and hornes your clouen feet expresse Wherby your beauties be so priz'd among your owne As they will blush for yours by name or nature to be knowne Againe take all the world if it one soule content Then freely let Mankinde beleeue you are omnipotent But if your Legions here doe in their glories raue Tormented while they liue on earth and much more in the graue If to be nothing be the best that could be fall Your subtile Orbes to reall beings then must needs be thrall And so proue to the good but like those showres of raine Which while they wet the husbandman yet multiply his gaine Actus quartus Scena prima King Celica KIng Celica thou only child whom I repent Not yet to haue begot thy worke is vaine Thou run'st against my Destinies intent Feare not my fall the steepe is fayrest plaine And error safest guide vnto his end Who nothing but mischance can haue to friend We parents are but Natures nursery When our succession springs then ripe to fall Priuation vnto age is naturall Age there is also in a Princes State Which is contempt growne of misgouernment Where loue of change begetteth Princes hate For hopes must wither or grow violent If fortune binde desires to one Estate Then marke Blinde as a Man Scorn'd as a King A Fathers kindnesse loath'd and desolate Life without ioy or light what can it bring But inward horrour vnto outward hate O safety thou art then a hatefull thing When childrens death assures the fathers State No Safe I am not though my sonne were slaine My frailty would beget such sonnes againe Besides if fatall be the heauens will Repining adds more force to destinie Whose iron wheeles stay not on fleshly wit But headlong runne downe steep Necessity And as in danger we doe catch at it That comes to helpe and vnaduisedly Oft doe our friends to our misfortune knit So with the harme of those who would vs good Is Destinie impossibly withstood Celica then cease importune me no more My sonne my age the state where things are now Require my death Who would consent to liue Where loue cannot reuenge nor truth forgiue Celica. Though feare see nothing but extremity Yet danger is no deep sea but a Ford Where they that yeeld can only drowned be In wrongs and wounds Sir you are to remisse To Thrones a passiue nature fatall is King Occasion to my sonne hath turn'd her face My inward wants all outward strengths betray And so make that impossible I may Celica. Yet liue Liue for the State King Whose ruines glasses are Wherin see errors of my selfe I must And hold my life of danger shame and care Celica. When feare propounds with losse men euer choose King Nothing is left me but my selfe to lose Celica. And is it nothing then to lose the State King Where chance is ripe there counsell comes too late Celica by all thou ow'st the Gods and me I doe coniure thee Leaue me to my chance What 's past was errors way the truth it is Wherein I wretch can only goe amisse If Nature saw no cause of suddaine ends She that but one way made to draw our breath Would not haue left so many doores to death Celica. Yet Sir if weaknesse be not such a sande As neither wrong nor counsell can manure Choose and resolue what death you will endure King This sword thy hands may offer vp my breath And plague my lifes remissenesse in my death Celica. Vnto that dutie if these hands be borne I must thinke God and Truth but names of scorne Againe this iustice were if life were lou'd Now meerly grace since death doth but forgiue A life to you which is a death to liue Paine must displease that satisfies offence King Chance hath left death no more to spoile but sense Celica. Then sword doe Iustice office thorough me I offer more than that he hates to thee King Ah! Stay thy hand My State no equall hath And much more matchlesse my strange vices be One kinde of death becomes not thee and me Kings plagues by chance or destinie should fall Headlong he perish must that ruines all Celica. No cliffe or rocke is so precipitate But downe it eyes can leade the blinde a way Without me liue or with me dye you may King Celica and wilt thou Alaham exceed His crueltie is death you torments vse He takes my Crowne you take my selfe from me A Prince of this falne Empire let me be Celica. Then be a King no Tyrant of thy selfe Be and be what you will what nature lent Is still in hers and not our gouernment King If disobedience and obedience both Still doe me hurt in what strange state am I But hold thy course It well becomes my blood To doe their parents mischiefe with their good Celica. Yet Sir harke to the poore oppressed teares The iust mens moane that suffer by your fall A Princes charge is to protect them all And shall it nothing be that I am yours The world without my heart within doth know I neuer had vnkinde vnreuerent powers If thus you yeeld to Alahams treacherie He ruines you 't is you Sir ruine me King Celica Call vp the dead awake the blinde Turne backe the time bid windes tell whence they come As vainly strength speakes to a broken minde Fly from me Celica hate all I doe Misfortunes haue in blood successions too Celica. Will you doe that which Alaham can not He hath no good you haue no ill but he This Marre-right yeelding's honors Tyranny King Haue I not done amisse Am I not ill That ruin'd haue a Kings authority And not one King alone since Princes all Feele part of those scornes wherby one doth fall Treason against me cannot treason be All lawes haue lost authority in me Celica. The lawes of power chain'd to mens humors be The good haue conscience the ill like instruments Are in the hands of wise authority Moued diuided vsed or layd downe Still with desire kept subiect to a Crowne Stirre vp all States all spirits hope and feare Wrong and reuenge are currant euery where King Put downe my sonne For that must be the way A fathers shame a Princes Tyrannie The Scepter euer shall misiudged be Celica. Let them feare rumor that doe worke amisse Blood torments death horrors of Cruelty Haue time and place Looke through these skinnes of feare Which still perswade the better side to beare And since thy sonne thus trayterously conspires Let him not prey on all thy race and thee Keepe ill example from posterity King Danger is come and must I now vnarme And let in hope to weaken resolution Passion be thou my Legacie and Will To thee I giue my life Crowne reputation My pompes to clouds and as forlorne with men My strength to women hoping this